Seven US law enforcement officers have been shot, one of them fatally, in an incident in South Carolina, officials say. President Trump sent his "thoughts and prayers" after the shooting -- Photo: EVN Police in the city of Florence had been responding to a call for help from the sheriff's office. A gunman had been holding children hostage and was involved in a two-hour stand-off before surrendering and taken to hospital. He has not been identified and the motive is unclear. US President Donald Trump has tweeted about the shooting, quoting South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. The Officer Down Memorial Page lists the names of 23,408 US police officers killed in the line of duty - 112 so far this year. Over 15,000 people have been killed by guns in the United States in 2017, according to a list compiled by tracking website Gun Violence Archive. That figure does not include an estimated 22,000 annual suicides using firearms. Source: BBC … [Read more...] about South Carolina: Seven officers shot, suspect in custody
South carolina list of cities
Vietnam’s 400-year-old town rated among world’s 15 best tourism cities
Hoi An, 30 kilometers south of Da Nang, has won much love among global travelers after becoming a familiar name in global rankings by respected international travel magazines. For a second year in a row the ancient town has made it to the list of 15 best tourism cities on earth based on a vote by readers of the New York-based Travel + Leisure. From being a small rural village, Hoi An catapulted to global fame as the top travel destination in Southeast Asia because of some unique distinctions, which have repeatedly been hailed year after year. Its slow pace and tranquil atmosphere, difficult to find elsewhere, make it stand out from other places in the country. Hoi An came eighth in the list, down one spot from last year, while San Miguel de Allende in Mexico reigned supreme for a second consecutive year. Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Kyoto in Japan and Ubud in Indonesia are three other Southeast Asian cities that appeared in the list. Every year, for its World’s Best Awards … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s 400-year-old town rated among world’s 15 best tourism cities
This is why Saigon is in the world’s top 10 cities for solo travelers
Taking a solo trip to explore exotic parts of the world is becoming more popular among globetrotters, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is a rising star on the list of places to visit. New data from Airbnb, an accommodation service that allows people to list their homes and hotels for holiday rentals, show that the city is one of the friendliest destinations for solo travelers. Solo bookings for HCMC surged 146 percent in 2016, second only to Cancun in Mexico, as reported by the U.K. lifestyle site Good Housekeeping. The Vietnamese city is one of two Asian destinations to make the top 10, besides Busan in South Korea. Mexico proved the most friendly country, with Playa Del Carmen and Mexico City also making the list. The rest of the top 10 is made up of Cologne in Germany, Johannesburg in South Africa, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Auckland in New Zealand and Charlotte in North Carolina, U.S. Ho Chi Minh City is the country's top tourist destination for foreigners. The … [Read more...] about This is why Saigon is in the world’s top 10 cities for solo travelers
Here’s why Saigon is in the world’s top 10 cities for solo travelers
Taking a solo trip to explore exotic parts of the world is becoming more popular among globetrotters, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is a rising star on the list of places to visit. New data from Airbnb, an accommodation service that allows people to list their homes and hotels for holiday rentals, show that the city is one of the friendliest destinations for solo travelers. Solo bookings for HCMC surged 146 percent in 2016, second only to Cancun in Mexico, as reported by the U.K. lifestyle site Good Housekeeping. The Vietnamese city is one of two Asian destinations to make the top 10, besides Busan in South Korea. Mexico proved the most friendly country, with Playa Del Carmen and Mexico City also making the list. The rest of the top 10 is made up of Cologne in Germany, Johannesburg in South Africa, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Auckland in New Zealand and Charlotte in North Carolina, U.S. Ho Chi Minh City is the country's top tourist destination for foreigners. The … [Read more...] about Here’s why Saigon is in the world’s top 10 cities for solo travelers
U.S. charity loophole enabled trading of 1,300 endangered animals
Last year, after a Minnesota dentist sparked an uproar by killing a popular lion named Cecil while on safari in Zimbabwe, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service placed similar African lions on the endangered species list, making it illegal to import them as trophies to the United States. But for African lions and other threatened and endangered species, there’s an exception to this rule: Hunters, circuses, zoos, breeders and theme parks can get permits to import, export or sell endangered animals if they can demonstrate that the transactions will “enhance the survival” of the species. Often, records show, this requirement is met in part by making a cash contribution to charity - usually a few thousand dollars. The practice has angered both animal-rights activists who say it exploits wildlife and exhibitors who describe the process as unfair and arbitrary. In the last five years, the vast majority of the estimated 1,375 endangered species permits granted by the Fish … [Read more...] about U.S. charity loophole enabled trading of 1,300 endangered animals